Motor-vehicle steering apparatus



G: N. HILL MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1927 l litittll LL, O l? llAlllfliIillON, ONTARIO, CANADA. .l"

.MlllllUlla-VEHICLE STIMFJRIITG- .llrl fll'llilirl-llll tlEl.

Application filed February 324:, 1927. Eerie) l lo. 170.5

My invention relates to motor vehicle steering apparatus consisting of novel spring; devices combined with the usual spindle units and tie rod and jvieldablv tensioned against the spindle bodies and against the spindle arm pivot bodies,

The principal. object of the invention is to provide device for preventing play and vibration both in the spindle body and axle voke connections and in the spindle arni pivot body and tie rod volie connections.

Another important obiect is to provide such a device which can be readily applied to automobiles already in use, and that can-- not interfere with easy and etlieient steering out the same.

Another object is to provide device of the class specified which will not tend to bias the steering in either direction but which will rather tend to injthience the same in a straight course.

it still further object is to provide av device of the class specified which will be simple, etlicient, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with further objects. may be attained by the construction. combination and arrangement of the parts will be hereinafter inore tlullv described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and ascertained in the claims hereunto annexed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a. plan view of the front axle assembly of a well known make of automobile with. the improved steering apparatus in connection therewith as constructed in accordance with this invention:

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed perspec' tive view of one and oil an axle asseinl'lly with the spring device about to be connected thereto: and.

l gure 3 a view similar to Figure 2 showing the spring}; device after it is prop erlv connected.

Similar i'etercnce numerals reter to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

the trout side is designated upon the drawing; b v the numeral 10; the spindle body unit comprising); the usual spindles ll, spindle bodies 12 pivoted between the axle volre ns 13 and 14;. the spindle or steerinp: a ni 'lIi having at their ends the pivot bodies l and the tie rod ll provided with the volres 18 in which pivot bodies 16.

The spring device comprises a spring wire doubled upon itselt forming; a pair of spaced. arms 19 roughly parallel to each other, the doubled over portion 520 being U-shaped The arms 19 are provided. with coils E 31, and the coils are preferablyloosely connected by means oi a linlt to prevent accidental s 'a'eadin e' or bulging apart of the arms.

here the coils Ell ocean the spring]; is bent so that the arms 19 he more or less at: rig-ht angles with the U shaped section prior to being sprung; into position on the spindle unit, whereupon it assumes a substantially V shaped term.

In applying the spring device. the arms 19 are passed through the space bounded by the converging axle yoke arms 13 and 14 and the spindle body 12, one arm 1.9 disposed above and one below the spindle arm socket as to embrace the latter.

To facilitate the installation the respective spindle unit may be turned rearwardly to the limit oi: its range oi travel as shown in Figure 2 which brings the relative position of the respective parts closer in accord with the unsprung torin oi the spring. The U shaped section 20 of the spring; is then inserted between the yolre arms of the tie rod 17' and the spindle aru'i pivot body 16.

hen the springs are applied to both spindle body units. the spindles ll. are tensionallv held in a position parallel to the axle 1.0 by the opposing: tension of the respective springs, but the tension is not sufficient to interfere with easy steering. or to bias the same. There is, however. suilicieut tension to slightlv influence the steerinp" in a straight course this being a desirable fem. ture in steering.

In use. the U shaped section 20 bears toosionallv against the yoke 18 and also bea rs tensionally against the spindle arm pivot body 16 so as to prevent vibration. of the latter with the tie rod and spindle a rm bolt 24;. and the arms 19* have sliding bearing against the spindle body 12 so as to prevent vibration of: the same with the spindle bolt Although the free ends of the arms 19 are pivoted the said inav be left uncoupled, in order to protect th against accidental daina coup. -gi.

pose, one of the arms may be made longer than the other and bent towards the other, the end of the thus bent portion 26 being L'formed' into-a1 hook 27 for. en a ement with the free end of the other:arm.

There has thusbeen produced a simple and useful device of the class described and for the purposes specified, ano now having fully described the invention and the'nianner in whichit is to be performed in such mannerthat any person skilled in the; art to which. itappertains could construct, apply,

' and use the same,.I claim 2- 1. In an apparatns'ot theclass described,

.the combination with .a front'axle oke, a

tie rod yoke,'and a spindle'body unit. including a spindle body pivoted in the front axleyy'o'ke, a spindle arm projecting rear- Wardlyfrom the spindlebody, and aspindle arm pivot body formedron the end of thearm, and-pivoted in the tie rod yoke, of a springgpassed"between the .arms of the tie rod yoke. and bearing'against said yoke and bearing against the spindle-arm pivot body, and another portion of the spring passed ,between-thearms of said axle yoke and "bearing against the spindle body.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination IWlth a front axleyoke, a tie rod yoke, and a spindle body unit including a spindle body pivoted in the front axle yoke, a spindle arm projecting rearthe combination with a front axle yoke, a

tie-rod yoke,and a spindle body unit including a spindle'body pivoted in the front .axle yoke, aspindle arm projecting rearwardly from the spindle body socket, and

Ya spindle-arm pivot body formed on the -'endof the arm and pivoted 1n the tie rod yoke, of'a spring passed between the arms of the tiered yoke and bearing against said yoke and bearing against the spindle arm pivot body, and another portion of the springcomprising two arms passed between the arms of said axle yoke one of the spring arms being disposed above and the other below said spindle arm socket and bearing against the spindle body.

In testimony whereof I have atiixed my signature.

GEORGE N. HILL.

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